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Monday, December 31, 2012

So the time has come to make a brand spanking new list of resolutions... many of which I have set myself up for failure with but alas, I will try.

The original list I wrote will not be published here as many of the resolutions are not for the public eye. Although most of my life is advertised and exposed, there are still a few things that I'd like to try and remain private (which is next to impossible in my cosy little town...).

1) Move out of current cottage. Find my own place or (God help me,) move back in with my folks. Having rent-free accommodation for a while could be just what my two cats and I need right now.

2) Never. Smoke. Again. Not even a puff. No drunken excuses. Just NO!

3) Make a habit of washing the dishes, clothing and other basic household cleaning chores more frequently. Devlop a 'routine' if you will..

4) Focus more on my blog. Construct a checklist of all of the posts I'd like to write about and slowly work through them and add new ideas as I go along.

5) Actually make use of my gym contract at Pezula.

6) Make Salvage a popular, well-known store. Note to self: this does not happen overnight!

7) Bond more with my family. Call them just to catch up and say hi. Invite them over for dinner or out for a picnic.

8) Don't bring work home.

9) On that note, don't bring home to work.

10) Make a plan to be kissed on the countdown next year... as this year I will be partying it up with Bridget Jones and (no, sadly not a bottle of vodka,) a bottle of wine at home by my lonesome.

Have a Happy New Year faithful bloggers' and I wish you all of the very best for 2013.

Monday, December 24, 2012

After three wild nights of only the best parties with them including countless drinks, dancing, swimming fully clothed (for some!) in the ocean, shooting stars, star-struck fans and having the honor to be with them at their VIP table each night - I realized I had to blog about their venture.

Jason and Justin have been on this incredible tour around Africa, raising money to help save the Rhino's.
The cause is called Rock 'n Ride for Rhino's and they are going around doing gigs, entertaining us party go-ers and making our nights beyond extraudinary while another guy on their tour works around the tables getting to know you all and asking for donations towards the cause!

Another fantastic thing I noticed is how down to earth they all were regarding their fans.

They danced with them, took pictures with them, had shooters and sat with the fans at their tables and spoke to everyone they could. They truly appreciate all of the support and you couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to be throwing all they have into helping to save these wonderfully majestic creatures.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A few nights ago I was lying on my bed sipping on a full mug of frothy hot chocolate, listening to the thunder rumble and the rain bucket down from the sky above while flipping through the Spring edition of a Travel magazine.

That's I stumbled across something that I was least expecting; something that hadn't even entered my mind as an opportunity before:

Volunteer work overseas.

Hawaii and Fiji are looking for anyone - from surfers to waitresses, teachers to health carers. They need people to help disadvantaged children; to teach these kids the joys and wonders of the life we get handed on a platter.

Whether you're a pro surfer or still have your training wheels on, you could teach these kids how to swim, surf, play... Live!

The cause is almost too beautiful and I have no idea how I had not thought of this before. I guess the fact that I've never had much time or money to play with blinded me from such ideas but now that I have a small sum saved up and a little business that is slowly blooming more things are becoming available to me.

Opportunities range from just a two week visit to indefinite months where you could really make an impact on these villagers lives.

The great thing is that no experience is needed and what you contribute will look fantastic on your CV. If your goal is to teach then spend a few months with the village kids and get incredible first-hand experience.

As it is volunteer work obviously there is no salary involved, so you have to work towards doing something like this.

You can't just decide you're going to go.

The Hawaai cause that I am interested in getting involved in costs about R17'000.00.

Once I get my Salvage store up and running properly with clothing / accessory donations from friends and family and I start making more of a profit I will save that up quite quickly I reckon.

You have to save up and be prepared for something like this.

The projects include your accommodation, food, social activities, insurance and so much more and prices really aren't that bad.

Teaching children in Hawaii how to swim and how to surf indefinitely is right at the top of my bucket list.

Once I return from my trip to Italy this will be my next goal to work towards. Then Chille. Then India. Then Bali. Then...... I could go on!

I heard a little something the other day that made me smile and reminded me of myself:

She's So Jetset.

This would be the opportunity of a lifetime for any of us and I urge as many of you as possible to get involved in such a worthy, fulfilling cause.

Friday, December 7, 2012

I’m a big fan of experimenting in the kitchen and I am
constantly looking for new, interesting recipes to try out and add my own
twists to.

This specific recipe was inspired by Jamie Oliver and out of all of the meals
that I have created over the years after getting accepted to study at the
Institute of Culinary Arts, this one is by far my best.

Not only did it turn out absolutely deeeeeelicious… it was also surprisingly
quick and easy!

I was incredibly proud and my friends that had a taste said the following:

“Lots of fragrant flavours with a great kick of chilli and a
subtle sweet taste from the sugar snap beans, it was delicious!”

Monday, December 3, 2012

November was very different from the rest of this year and I think it's a combination of good and bad.

At the end of October I injured my back pretty badly. After a trip to the hospital, I was bed bound for practically seventeen days.

My two beautiful kittens and three loving dogs kept me company as I lounged around painting, finishing off my novel and watching a new found tv show that has become a fast favorite, Modern Family.

It was only by the end of November when things started to get really interesting. An old family friend invited us up to Paarl for her wedding so I took a road-trip that took nine hours with my parents, two people who I have discovered to be the most unpleasant companions to be trapped in a car with for such a large amount of time.

The constant bickering, the smokey atmosphere and the unadventurous attitudes were but some of the disheartening features of this trip.

Once we had settled in however, after dad nearly writing the car off over a speed bump (karma's a bitch! I happened to do the same thing a few years ago and he did not believe that it was possible!!) and getting hopelessly lost, things started to get slightly better.

I managed to drag them from our rented semi-built house for the weekend and we ended up traveling to Franshhoek for breakfast.

We were recommended to a spot called The Salmon Bar and throughout a whole street as long as Bangla Road in Phuket adorned with bistro after bistro... we had to find the one spot that had fried eggs that could have concussed someone if you'd thrown it at a head.

We made the most of it though and went to some spectacular view points of the abundant supply of vineyards in the area:

That night I pulled on a red dress that had taken me all of five minutes to hunt down in Foschini and went off to watch a girl I had known since birth get married.

She made an absolutely stunning bride and the evening was breathtaking.

It was the first time I'd gone to a wedding without a date so I was pretty lonesome when the romantic music started to play and all the couples got up to dance. I must have been one of the only people without a partner.

That's when some guy called Ryan from Mauritius knelt down at my table and asked me to dance.

We had fun twirling around the dance floor and made a great night of it. Things only got better when I caught the bouquet in between the sea of hungry, marriage-craving females around me!

It wasn't nice having everyone tell me, "You're Next..." though, because I am freshly single. I have barely been able to find my feet since my breakup and now I'm supposed to be getting married!? Slow down!! Let me find the guy first!!!

What to do with a bouquet if you catch it:

I hung the bouquet upside down on my wall at home to preserve the colors and the memory. It is still there, drying out today.

Once back in good old Knysna, I decided to go clubbing after a Blues Music Festival at Mo's on Rex. I hadn't really been clubbing in 2012 at all so it was a nice change to get out and break it down on the dance floor where I was reunited with two old friends.

I did another modeling shoot with the talented Eon Coetzee too, link to his website below:

http://www.eonphotography.co.za/

He in honestly such a professional, fun, easy-going and cheerful guy to work with.

He makes it easy to loosen up and not be shy while still keeping it professional at all times.

He's an absolute pleasure to work with and his work is outstanding!

I also visited Baby Oaks where I hosted a Salvage sale.

While all the women raided through my black bags for bargains, I played with all of the kiddies! This little ginger ninja was such a funny character and helping her take some of her first steps was overwhelmingly heartwarming.

Sometimes you just need to hang out with a child to remember the real beauty in this world....

At the spa, I was in charge of forming a Secret Santa game for all of the ladies.

I put all of our names into a packet and we each had to pick one of the folded up notes, whoever we got was who we had to buy one gift per week for.

We had a limit of R100.00, so roughly R25.00 per gift per week (about three pounds more or less...)

The first week has just passed and my first gift that I received was so special that I really did have to do a post on it and I have no doubt that many of you would love to do this for your Secret Santa too.

I got an A4 sheet of paper with my name definition (in itself this is already beautifully personalized and something that someone obviously took time on,) I also got a Jade stone in the shape of a heart and stapled to the paper I got a scrumptious pack of Ferrero Rocher!

Something so simple can mean so much to a person.

The chocolates were divine and the stone was beautiful but my favorite part of this whole gift was the name definition.

It was unique, personalized, thoughtful and made me feel special.

Whoever my secret santa is didn't just go to the store and grab a slab of chocolate and stick a bow on top... they took time to make it something that I'll always remember.

Good luck with your gift ideas!

Share some if you can as I have no idea how I'm going to beat this beautiful present!

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